Ezekiel 20:1-4 Meaning: When God Refuses Your Inquiry
1In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh, and sat before me.
2Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’
4“Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.
1And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the Lord, and sat before me.
2Then came the word of the Lord unto me, saying,
3Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.
4Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
1And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifthmonth, the tenthdayof the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Jehovah, and sat before me.
2And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
3Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Is it to inquire of me that ye are come? As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.
4Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
1And it cometh to pass, in the seventh year, in the fifth month , in the tenth of the month, come in have certain of the elders of Israel to seek Jehovah, and they sit before me;
2and there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,
3`Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: To seek Me are ye coming in? I live--I am not sought by you--an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.
4Dost thou judge them? Dost thou judge, son of man? The abominations of their fathers cause them to know,
1And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth [month], the tenth of the month, [that] certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Jehovah, and they sat before me.
2And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
3Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Are ye come to inquire of me? [As] I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.
4Wilt thou judge them, wilt thou judge, son of man? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers,
Meaning in one sentence
When the elders came seeking God, why did He refuse them? Ezekiel 20:1-4 shows that God sees the heart and desires true repentance, not empty inquiries.
Context
Ezekiel is in Babylon with the exiles. The year is 590 BC, about eleven months after his last vision. Some elders of Israel come to him and sit down before him, asking to inquire of the Lord. But God gives Ezekiel a shocking answer before the men can even speak. He tells the prophet that He will not be inquired of by these elders. Instead of receiving their question, Ezekiel is to judge them by making them face the history of their fathers' abominations, recorded in the rest of the chapter.
Key Words
The English word “inquire” here (the Hebrew dārash) means to seek or consult with care. It was the verb used for going to a prophet to get a word from God. The elders were making the right outward gesture, but God saw their hearts. His response, “I will not be inquired of by you”, closes the door. The repetition of the verb in the refusal emphasizes that God chooses not to be found by people who come with unrepentant hearts. The “abominations of their fathers” that Ezekiel must make them know is a real history. This word is the same used for the detestable idols and practices that had defiled Israel for generations. God is not being arbitrary; He is calling their bluff. He wants them to see that their own rebellion mirrors the rebellion of those before them, and that genuine seeking of God must begin with honesty about sin.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions agree that God refused the elders because their hearts were not right. Matthew Henry writes that they came with hypocritical enquiries. The Geneva Bible notes that God simply said He would not answer them. Calvin points out that they did not come with a right disposition, and that God’s refusal was a judgment of their insincerity. Some commentators see in this a dramatic call to repentance: by holding up the mirror of the fathers’ sins, God forces the elders to see themselves. Different traditions emphasize either the holiness of God who will not be mocked, or the mercy of God who even in judgment gives them an opportunity to repent. Both readings find their place in the passage.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to think God was being harsh or unfair in refusing to hear them. In fact, the elders were coming with hidden rebellion, assuming they could get an answer from God while still clinging to sin. Their inquiry was not genuine. God always welcomes a humble, broken heart, but He will not be treated as a magic source of advice by those who refuse to turn from their abominations.
Living This Out
If you have been praying but not listening, or asking God for direction while holding onto something you know He has called you to leave behind, this passage is for you. Before you ask God to speak, pause. Ask Him to search your heart. Is there a sin you have been ignoring, a resentment you have been nursing, a habit that you know dishonors Him? The elders came with their question, but God’s silence was louder than any answer. This week, do not rush into asking God for guidance. First, sit with the hard truths about your own life. Let Him show you the abominations of your own heart. Then, and only then, ask.
Main takeaway: God will not be sought by those who cling to sin; genuine seeking requires repentance and a humble heart.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Some people came to ask God a question, but God said, “I will not answer you.” God wanted them to first say sorry for the wrong things they were doing. God always listens to a sorry heart.
For ages 9, 12
The elders were like kids who say, “I need help,” but keep doing the thing that got them in trouble. God knew their hearts. He didn’t answer their question because they weren’t ready to change. Before you ask God for something big, ask Him to show you if there’s any sin you need to turn away from first. That is how real seeking starts.
Questions People Ask
Why did the elders come to inquire of the Lord if they were rebellious?
They came hoping for a word of deliverance or comfort, but without any intention of repenting. God saw through their pretense and refused to answer. This was not the first time Israel had made empty inquiries (see Isaiah 29:13). They wanted God's help on their own terms.
What does it mean that God would not be inquired of?
It means God closed the door to their inquiry. He would not receive their question or give them an answer. In the Old Testament, this was a severe judgment, often connected to unrepentant sin. The same phrase appears in Ezekiel 14:3, where God says He will not answer those who set up idols in their hearts.
Are there times God refuses to hear our prayers today?
Scripture teaches that God is near to the brokenhearted but that He hides His face from those who cherish sin (Psalm 66:18, Proverbs 28:9). This passage shows that God's silence can be a loving warning, calling us to examine our hearts before we pray.
What were the abominations of their fathers?
The rest of Ezekiel 20 explains: idolatry in Egypt, rebellion in the wilderness, the worship of false gods in Canaan. The abominations included worshiping idols, child sacrifice, and trusting in other nations. God wanted the elders to see that they were repeating the exact sins of the previous generations.
Does this mean God never answers insincere people?
God is sovereign and sometimes answers even the insincere, as He did with Balaam or the sailors in Jonah. But the consistent pattern is that God honors genuine humility and repentance. This passage warns that a pattern of hypocrisy can lead to God's silence, which is a severe mercy to drive us to true conversion.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study